Brace for Impact by Daryl Devoré

today the spotlight is on Daryl Devoré’s Brace for Impact, released as single story taken from the Crashing into Love box set.

What could be simpler than a routine plane trip from Toronto, Canada to Caracas, Venezuela for a rookie flight attendant and a sexy R.C.M.P. officer?

But Fate had other intentions.

After leaving a disastrous marriage, Paix Allcot begins a new career as a flight attendant. The romance of travel plus the desperate need to be on any other continent other than the one her ex is on seems like a dream job. For the first time, Paix is no longer a trainee and the passengers in economy class are under her care. Especially the handsome passenger seated in 36C.

Guy Lapierre, undercover officer, is following a vicious human-trafficker. He has little time for relationships. Too many innocent lives are at stake. But when the plane crashes and Guy is stranded on a tropical island, he is forced to work with Paix to survive until he discovers that the man he is tracking is Paix’s older brother.

Can a pink bra and a hot night on the side of a volcano save the relationship and their lives?

Here’s an excerpt, and the inspiration for this scene came from an actual event – the emergency chute deployed INTO the air plane.

Lori clicked the ON switch and waved it about. “Evacuate. Evacuate. This way. See my light.” The beam danced across horrified faces framed in bloated, yellow life jackets. “This way. See my…”

A hiss built in volume behind her. It sounded like a massive snake. There weren’t any snakes on this plane. She shuddered. What a scary movie that was. The hiss grew. The woman from 37D stood facing Lori. Her mouth open. Her eyes wide with terror. She pointed, releasing a piercing scream.

Something nudged the back of Lori’s leg. A shiver of dread filled her. Could there actually be a snake? She’d heard rumors of bizarre things being stowed away on international flights. She turned. Blinked. Gasped.

Time slowed. Lori watched with disbelief at the ridiculous occurrence unfolding before her. Inch by inch, the evacuation slide expanded inside the confined area of the aft galley. The door was still closed. She shone the light on it. Yes, the latch was in the locked position. Why was the chute deploying? Inside.

She bolted across the plane, to the opposite door and released the hatch. Water gushed in. She pushed against it to open the door wide enough to let her passengers escape. It wouldn’t budge. With a loud grunt, she heaved with all her strength.

36C stood next to her. He leaned his shoulder against the door and slammed his weight against it. It wouldn’t move.

“Everybody. Forward to the wings. Walk calmly. Don’t push.” She held the flashlight high so they could stumble through the darkness with a bit of light showing them the way.

Pop.

She turned. The edge of the evacuation chute slid off the lavatory door and spat outward.

The horror of the situation flashed through Lori’s mind. Move. Move now!

The length of time for a message to go from a brain to a person’s feet was less time than it takes for an evacuation chute to smack someone in the chest.

The air ripped from Lori’s lungs. Her feet slipped out from underneath her. The cool Caribbean water covered her face, filling her eyes, nose and mouth. She needed air. She tried to inhale. Only water filled her mouth. The weight of the chute pressed against her, pinning her under the water.

This is it. I’m dead. Lights swirled in her head. Her lungs convulsed, trying to drag in air. Tremors ripped through her muscles. Her brain screamed for her to breathe. Black swarmed through her.

Here’s what people say about Daryl’s story:

Daryl Devore’s book was fantastic also it was probably one of my favorites of the set. I was crying at the end thinking the worst but it turned out great.

If you want to read Paix and Guy’s adventure, you can find it as e-book on Amazon, and as paperback, always on Amazon. Soon, it’ll be on CreateSpace as well.